Discussions about Sowing Small-Seeded Legumes
with Wheat or Rice for Postharvest Pasture Development

(1/6/04 - 1/13/04)

postings: 7
countries: Honduras, United States (Hawaii, New York)
organizations/institutions/companies: COSECHA, Cornell University, Northeast Organic Network

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From: william cook
To: mulch-l@cornell.edu (MULCH-L)
Subject: Over/Undersowing Legumes
Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2004

Do we have any member with practical experience in sowing such legumes as Trifolium, Medicago, Melilotus or other small-seeded legume with small grains such as wheat or rice with the intent of obtaining a pasture after the grain is off, or plowing down the field?

Wm Cook
Honolulu, Hawaii

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Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2004
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
From: Steven Vanek
Subject: Over/Undersowing Legumes

Organic grain farmers in the northeast U.S. (and others as well, probably) have extensive experience with frost seeding of legumes onto winter grains. Barley, wheat, and spelt are planted in the fall and red clover, Trifolium pratense, is spin seeded onto the dormant crop in march after snowmelt but before the grain has started growing appreciably. the clover establishes well when drainage is good, and has several important functions such as green manuring and weed suppression.

I wonder if anyone has thought of or tried an analogue for a non-temperate climate.

More later,

Steve Vanek
New York/Pennsylvania Coordinator
Northeast Organic Alliance (NEON)

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From: Peter Hobbs
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Over/Undersowing Legumes
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004

William:

In South Asia, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) is a common and successful legume planted after rice harvest. It provides an excellent fodder with farmers taking up to 6 cuttings from planting in November to finally dying out in May because of hot temperatures. But this is an irrigated system in the rice-wheat areas of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The seed is usually broadcast on a saturated soil with or without plowing in late October. Melilotus alba and Medicago spp. are common weeds in wheat in the rice-wheat areas so other species may be possible, but with Berseem farmers don't need to find an alternative. It is the most important fodder crop after rice in NW India and Pakistan.

Hope that helps.

Peter Hobbs
Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
Cornell University

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From: william cook
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Over/Undersowing Legumes

Thanks Peter....I know of its long use in Egypt as a winter forage....

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Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
From: Steven Vanek
Subject: Re: Over/Undersowing Legumes

Hi Peter -- what about Lathyrus sativus, grass pea? I've heard that is also common in some parts of South Asia -- possibly for cooler upland areas, do you have any experience or references on that? Thanks!

Steve Vanek
NEON
Ithaca, New York

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From: Rolando Bunch
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Over/Undersowing Legumes
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004

Dear Steve,

Grasspea is grown widely as a green manure/cover crop, and even consumed, in the highlands of Ethiopia.

Roland Bunch
COSECHA
Tegucigalpa, Honduras

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From: Peter Hobbs
To: MULCH-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Over/Undersowing Legumes
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004

Steve:

Yes that is another choice. It used to be very common in Bangladesh following deep water rice in lowland areas. They just broadcast the seed before rice harvest on a saturated soil. This crop also produces seed although it has an alkaloid that causes Lathyrism so has lost some popularity. It will grow well if sufficient moisture remains. Lentil, mustard, linseed, often mixed and with Lathyrus is also tried. There is probably lots of grey data on this in Bangladesh. Try emailing Craig Meisner at C.Meisner@cgiar.org who runs CIMMYT's Bangladesh office.

Cheers, Peter